UNO is committed to ensuring ethics, honesty, and integrity in the pursuit of our efforts in education, research, and outreach. The Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) provides guidance, resources, and oversight to ensure that UNO and its project directors are in compliance with the regulations and policies that apply to UNO activities.

Research Compliance

The three research regulatory compliance committees are shared with the University of Nebraska Medical Center where the committees’ administrative offices are located. UNO faculty serve as campus representatives on these committees.

The IRB assures the protection of all human subjects in research projects conducted by anyone on the premises of UNO and provides oversight for all research that is conducted elsewhere by UNO faculty, students, staff, or other representatives. The IRB also protects the investigator and the institution through a comprehensive review process.

The IACUC assists faculty, students, and staff in upholding UNO’s determination to assure the finest care and most humane utilization of our laboratory animals. To this end, every research, testing, and teaching project involving the use of a live, vertebrate animal must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC prior to initiation.

The IBC ensures the health and safety of all personnel working with biohazardous agents. The IBC makes certain that research conducted at the Institution is in compliance with federal guidelines and policies and reviews individual research proposals for biosafety concerns.

Research Integrity

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR): In response to a January 2010 federal certification requirement, the Office of Research and Creative Activity, with administrative support from the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research, oversees the delivery of appropriate training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers who conduct research with the support of any National Science Foundation funding and certain types of National Institutes of Health funding. Further information on Responsible Conduct of Research:

Financial Conflict of Interest: The guiding principle of UNO’s Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) policy is that apparent or actual conflicts of interest should be identified and managed and/or eliminated as appropriate. In many cases, public identification of the COI constitutes management of the conflict. Certain federal agencies including NIH require current FCOI training and periodic disclosure at specific times during the proposal submission and award process.

Regulatory Compliance

Export Control: All institutions of higher education and their faculty, staff, and students must comply with export controls, which are designed to ensure that sensitive information, technology, software, biological and chemical agents, equipment, and know-how are not employed for purposes other than their intended use. In case of violations, criminal sanctions, including substantial fines and even prison terms, can be applied. Further information on Export Controls:

Uniform Guidance: The Uniform Guidance (UG) applies to all new federal awards issued on or after December 26, 2014. Modifications adding new funding to awards issued prior to that date may also include a clause updating the terms of the award to fall under UG.

On December 26, 2013, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released its final rule of “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” (2 CFR Chapters I, II, Part 200, et al), and later provided interim updates. This guidance to federal agencies consolidates and replaces eight OMB Circulars such as the A-110 (Administrative requirements), A-21 (Cost principles), and A-133 (Audit requirements).

Intellectual Property: Intellectual Property (IP) includes inventions and other creative works and/or materials that may be protected under the patent, trademark, and/or copyright laws. The Board of Regents owns all inventions made by UNO employees while working under a grant or contract to UNO, or while using UNO resources. Further information on Intellectual Property:

Whistleblowing is defined as disclosing information that you reasonably believe is evident of gross mismanagement of a federal contract or grant, including gross waste of federal funds, abuse of authority relating to a federal contract or grant, danger to public health or safety, or a violation of law, rule, or regulation related to a federal contract or grant. UNO employees being paid from federally funded projects cannot be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against for whistleblowing. Further information can be found here.

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The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. Learn more about Equity, Access and Diversity.